Abortion Resources for Family Physicians

Approximately one in three women in Canada has an abortion in her lifetime, according to a 2012 report.¹ Family physicians play a crucial role in supporting patients who need abortion care. Currently many Canadian communities, particularly in rural or remote regions, lack abortion services, which forces patients to travel long distances for care. With the availability of mifepristone, a drug used in combination with misoprostol under the brand name Mifegymiso to induce an abortion, family physicians have an opportunity to extend their practices to incorporate this care and improve access to this service for their patients and communities. The following are links to resources for family physicians who want to provide or refer their patients for abortion care.

Resources for physicians

Health Canada approves updates to Mifegymiso prescribing information: Ultrasound no longer mandatory.
Health Canada is informing Canadians that the prescribing and patient information for Mifegymiso has been updated to reflect that an ultrasound is no longer required before the drug is prescribed. Mifegymiso is a combination product containing two drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) that are taken in sequence for the medical termination of a pregnancy.

Please click on the link below regarding Mifegymiso prescribing from Health Canada for more information.
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2019/69620a-eng.php
Canadian Abortion Providers Support:
This online community of practice provides a broad range of information for providers and is supported by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). The site includes Protocols, Ask an Expert, Academic Resources, Tools, Frequently Asked Questions, Locate a Pharmacy, etc. Users must register to access the site, but membership is free: https://www.caps-cpca.ubc.ca/index.php/Main_Page
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada:
- Mainpro+^® certified course in English and French on medical abortion (six modules) developed jointly by the CFPC, the Canadian Pharmacists Association, and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (cost: $50.00): https://www.sogc.org/en/rise/Events/event-display.aspx?EventKey=MATP
- Medical abortion guideline (payable access to full guideline): https://www.jogc.com/article/S1701-2163(16)00043-8/abstract
- Surgical abortion guideline (payable access to full guideline): https://www.jogc.com/article/S1701-2163(17)31309-9/abstract
National Abortion Federation (NAF) Canada:
- NAF Protocol for Mifepristone/Misoprostol in Early Abortion: https://5aa1b2xfmfh2e2mk03kk8rsx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/NAF_Mife-miso-_rotocol_2016.pdf
- Clinical Policy Guidelines for Abortion Care: https://prochoice.org/education-and-advocacy/cpg
- Online Learning Modules for members only (payable membership; this US–accredited program is eligible for non-certified Mainpro+ credits): https://prochoice.org/health-care-professionals/educational-resources/

Resources for patients

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada:
- General website: http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/home.html
- List of abortion clinics in Canada: http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/list-abortion-clinics-canada.pdf
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights:
- Positive pregnancy test: https://www.srhweek.ca/caring-for-yourself/pregnancy/positive-test-pregnancy-options
- Abortion pill/Mifegymiso: https://www.srhweek.ca/caring-for-yourself/pregnancy/positive-test-pregnancy-options/mifegymiso
- Find a provider: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/find-service-provider
Fédération du Québec pour le planning des naissances (in French only):
- Grossesse non planifiée : https://www.fqpn.qc.ca/public/informez-vous/grossesse-non-planifiee
- Avortement : https://www.fqpn.qc.ca/public/informez-vous/grossesse-non-planifiee/avortement
- Les points de service d’avortement au Québec (télécharger la brochure) : https://www.fqpn.qc.ca/?attachment_id=3468
SOS Grossesse (Pro-choice) (in French only) : https://sosgrossesse.ca/fr
NAF Canada:
- Think You’re Pregnant?: https://prochoice.org/think-youre-pregnant
- Find a provider: https://prochoice.org/think-youre-pregnant/find-a-provider

Reference
^{1. Norman WV. Induced abortion in Canada 1974-2005: Trends over the first generation with legal access. Contraception. 2012;85(2):185-91. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.06.009. Accessed 2018 Dec 11.}